1:48 Hawker Hurricane - National Markings / Early Variation 1

Hawker Hurricane - national insignia, early variation 1, 1:48 - Aviaeology

This is a sheet of national insignia, that is, of roundels and the fin flash. They are not airframe stencil markings, tail codes or serial numbers, and the sheet does not belong to one particular machine. The manufacturer defines it as early variation 1. The second early variation comes on a separate sheet with the part number ADD48C104-2, which the manufacturer ties to the period from November 1940 to April 1941, so check which period your machine belongs to before you buy. The sizes and the color layout of British roundels and fin flashes changed several times during the war, and the early periods differ the most.

The real subject

The Hawker Hurricane was a British single-engine fighter with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Unlike the all-metal Spitfire it had mixed construction, with a tubular fuselage frame and fabric covering over the rear, which made it easier to repair. In 1940 it bore the main weight of the Battle of Britain and was credited with more victories in it than any other British type.

Application tips

Spray a gloss clear coat under the decals so that no matte edges form beneath the carrier film. Cut the motif out, soak it briefly and slide it into place with a brush. Over rivets and engraved lines a decal fixer helps, followed by a decal softener, which draws the film down into the detail. Apply the softener only once the decal sits exactly where it should, because after that it will not move. Finally seal the whole surface with varnish.

Who the sheet is for

• builds of early Hurricanes in 1:48 scale
• modelers for whom the markings from the box do not suit the early period
• builds of machines from the Battle of Britain
• collectors of period British markings

This is an accessory for a model, not a kit. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.